Project LXXIV - 1988 BJ74 Land Cruiser Build
- Thread starter cruiseroutfit
- Start date
cruiseroutfit
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It's not over until it's over.
Knocking items off the To-Do list
While the crew was working on the front suspension and bumper, a second team was starting the assembly of the dual carrier rear bumper. Step one was to clean and wax the rear doors, particularly the areas that would be covered by the swing's door mount.
Ferg goes to town polishing and waxxing the back doors.
Rear bumper ready for assembly & install
I was still a little leery about future corrosion issues between the rear bumper door mounts and the doors themselves so we applied 3M trim tape between the two, keeping the contact patches to a minimum while retaining the strength needed for the door mounts.
Bryce applying the trim tape to the door mounts
Door mounts installed & test fitting the rear bumper
Making good progress on our To-Do List!
With the front bumper and suspension complete we moved to the rear suspension. Once again we broke the lugs, supported the frame and pulled the stock components off. Toyota had to have originally assembled the rear suspension before installing the fuel tank as the rear shackles simply cannot be removed without pulling the tank... If you want to keep them in one piece that is. Seeing as we were installing a full OME setup on the rear including new anti-inversion greaseable shackles, we opted to make a few quick guts with the cut-off wheel and get back to business. When gaps were available with the suspension work, rear bumper work was underway. We had to do some test fitting both on the truck and on the workbench to verify we had the assembly figured out for the bumper, swings and linkage but it was fairly intuitive and James had give us some great pictures during the design and fab stages that we were able to use to verify the assembly.
Rear suspension complete, time for tire installation at the hands of Mike & Chris
Adjusting the linkage on the rear swing
The prototype rear bumper turned out really slick. Again James and his team @ ExpeditionOne pulled off a neat bumper. When they hit us up about borrowing a 70 Series for prototyping I didn't think we would be running one on this rig in fact I figured it would be 3-4 months before they had a workable product. As our planned Kaymar got hung up in shipping (we'll be using it soon enough on an Aussie Outback style build
) it was quite serendipitous the Exp-One got this one done in just a few weeks. We chatted with James quite a bit during the design and build and I feel he not only was willing to take suggestions but he pretty much covered ever item we had discussed wanting out of a rear bumper for these rigs.
Bumper & Swings Installed
Meanwhile, some people were working harder than others
Next up winch, jerry can holder and license plate mount on the rear.
Knocking items off the To-Do list
While the crew was working on the front suspension and bumper, a second team was starting the assembly of the dual carrier rear bumper. Step one was to clean and wax the rear doors, particularly the areas that would be covered by the swing's door mount.
Ferg goes to town polishing and waxxing the back doors.
Rear bumper ready for assembly & install
I was still a little leery about future corrosion issues between the rear bumper door mounts and the doors themselves so we applied 3M trim tape between the two, keeping the contact patches to a minimum while retaining the strength needed for the door mounts.
Bryce applying the trim tape to the door mounts
Door mounts installed & test fitting the rear bumper
Making good progress on our To-Do List!
With the front bumper and suspension complete we moved to the rear suspension. Once again we broke the lugs, supported the frame and pulled the stock components off. Toyota had to have originally assembled the rear suspension before installing the fuel tank as the rear shackles simply cannot be removed without pulling the tank... If you want to keep them in one piece that is. Seeing as we were installing a full OME setup on the rear including new anti-inversion greaseable shackles, we opted to make a few quick guts with the cut-off wheel and get back to business. When gaps were available with the suspension work, rear bumper work was underway. We had to do some test fitting both on the truck and on the workbench to verify we had the assembly figured out for the bumper, swings and linkage but it was fairly intuitive and James had give us some great pictures during the design and fab stages that we were able to use to verify the assembly.
Rear suspension complete, time for tire installation at the hands of Mike & Chris
Adjusting the linkage on the rear swing
The prototype rear bumper turned out really slick. Again James and his team @ ExpeditionOne pulled off a neat bumper. When they hit us up about borrowing a 70 Series for prototyping I didn't think we would be running one on this rig in fact I figured it would be 3-4 months before they had a workable product. As our planned Kaymar got hung up in shipping (we'll be using it soon enough on an Aussie Outback style build
) it was quite serendipitous the Exp-One got this one done in just a few weeks. We chatted with James quite a bit during the design and build and I feel he not only was willing to take suggestions but he pretty much covered ever item we had discussed wanting out of a rear bumper for these rigs.
Bumper & Swings Installed
Meanwhile, some people were working harder than others
Next up winch, jerry can holder and license plate mount on the rear.
cruiseroutfit
Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
I really like it, it's no crazy power machine but they just lump along. I've got a 13BT/auto and this one is the 13BT/H55F combo, obviously the auto sucks up a bunch of the power but with 3FE like performance but twice (or more) the fuel economy, I can live with that. Now the 5spd combo on the other hand has some pep left, even turning the 33's. Time will tell, I'm loading it up for a week in Southern Utah this coming week
cruiseroutfit
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I don't have any immediate plans to add a hitch or tow but it could easily be integrated if the need came up.
cruiseroutfit
Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
I'll grab some full shots this afternoon. I'm posting pics in the chronological order of the build but we are getting near the end
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Nice Cruiser Kurt!
Got to love a SWB with a removable hardtop. I am also keen on the color of your truck.
I had a Kaymar on my 60. I liked it but the first time I stuff the long ******** of the 60 into the ground it bent up the Kaymar into the body and gave me a slight dent where it contacted the body. IMHO, for a bumper that costs as much as a Kaymar, it is not built stout enough.
Cheers
Got to love a SWB with a removable hardtop. I am also keen on the color of your truck.
I had a Kaymar on my 60. I liked it but the first time I stuff the long ******** of the 60 into the ground it bent up the Kaymar into the body and gave me a slight dent where it contacted the body. IMHO, for a bumper that costs as much as a Kaymar, it is not built stout enough.
Cheers
cruiseroutfit
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Thanks Ian!
digitalferg
Adventurer
The models with the FRP removable tops use the same doors as the hardtop/wagon versions and are one-piece, full-height. On the FRP removable top versions, they are however removable (doors are always removable though, right.... Haha), but then the back is wide open. I guess it is meant to run with them still in place even when the top is removed if you don't want your junk rolling out the back.
There are factory soft-top versions of the 70/71 and 73/74 and those rear doors are a two-peice unit where each of the rear doors have an upper and lower section. These soft-top units are super rare in both 70/71 and 73/74.
There are factory soft-top versions of the 70/71 and 73/74 and those rear doors are a two-peice unit where each of the rear doors have an upper and lower section. These soft-top units are super rare in both 70/71 and 73/74.
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cruiseroutfit
Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
Ferg covered that nicely
Similar to late model FJ40's, you'll have to either come up with a set of 1/2 doors or tailgate and or run a 'filler panel' for the back of the truck when operating sans top. I've not had the top off of either of my 74's, nor my FJ40 for a couple years either so I haven't crossed that bridge yet personally. I think when I do, I'll source a set of 7x doors from an OE soft top or build a custom tail gate?
Similar to late model FJ40's, you'll have to either come up with a set of 1/2 doors or tailgate and or run a 'filler panel' for the back of the truck when operating sans top. I've not had the top off of either of my 74's, nor my FJ40 for a couple years either
so I haven't crossed that bridge yet personally. I think when I do, I'll source a set of 7x doors from an OE soft top or build a custom tail gate?
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
I find that strange about the rear doors. I think the truck would look really odd with the top off and full rear doors. So perhaps Toyota didn't think many people would be running without a top? And maybe it was more designed for keeping the cab cool? Just seems odd to me since every other truck I am thinking of with a removable hardtop has either half rear doors, a tailgate or doors can be split.
Cheers
Cheers